In the fourth inning and again in the ninth, Rodriguez batted with first base unoccupied and a runner at second. The second time with the potential winning run at second. But the Indians eschewed an intentional walk. Carmona pitched to Rodriguez, and he struck him out.

“I knew he had 108, 109 pitches," Rodriguez said of his ninth-inning at-bat. “That's the spot of the game where you want to be. I was excited about the situation. I thought I was the right man at the right spot. I worked him, fouled off some tough pitches. I thought I battled him long and hard. Against a guy like that you want to battle, foul pitches off, hope he makes a mistake out over the plate. To his credit he kept making good pitches, and I tip my cap. He won the battle."

Rodriguez was annoyed with himself that he swung at a 3-2 pitch that broke out of the strike zone, and he was annoyed at other swings, too, because he said he had been impatient. “I just have to go to first, take my walks," he said. “I'm swinging at too many bad pitches. I have no idea why. I'm just not patient enough. I have to become patient. I'm not pressing, but I have to swing at strikes."

Labels: Yankees-Indians